Essays on trans, intersex, cis and other persons and topics from a trans perspective.......All human life is here.

This site is the most comprehensive on the web devoted to trans history and biography. Well over 1400 persons worthy of note, both famous and obscure, are discussed in detail, and many more are mentioned in passing.)

There is a detailedIndexarranged by vocation, doctor, activist group etc.

In addition to this most articles have one or more labels at the bottom. Click one to go to similar persons. There is a full list of labels at the bottom of the page. There is also a search box at the top left. Enjoy exploring!

Increased usage of SOGI (sexual orientation and/or gender identity), more so than of ‘sex and gender diverse" SGD.

'trannie' has largely lost its meaning as the umbrella word, although still used in that sense by older people. It is now mainly used by drag queens.

Associated Press is discouraging the use of the word 'homophobia' 'as it is not a medical condition'. They have not ruled on 'transphobia'.

The APA re its DSM has proposed to drop Gender Identity Disorder and use Gender Dysphoria instead. At least the bad word 'disorder' is gone, but remember that Norman Fisk proposed 'gender dysphoria syndrome' in 1973 to re-medicalize the concept as 'transsexualism' had by then lost its medical connotations.

Turkey: Elif Shafak. “From homophobia to a moving apology in Turkey: As a groundbreaking film launches, Turkish attitudes to gay and transgender people are slowly improving – in the media at least”. The Guardian, 18 January 2012.

Gavi Ansara & Peter Hegarty. "Cisgenderism in psychology: Pathologizing and misgendering children from 1999 to 2008". Psychology and Sexuality, 3, 137-160, 2011. Download. Winner of the American Psychological Association Division 44 Transgender Research Award Prize. Abstract: "We assessed whether recent psychological literature on children reflects or contrasts with the zeitgeist of American Psychological Association's recent non-discrimination statement on 'transgender' and 'gender variant' individuals. Article records (N = 94) on childhood 'gender identity' and 'expression' published between 1999 and 2008 inclusive were evaluated for two kinds of cisgenderism, the ideology that invalidates or pathologises self-designated genders that contrast with external designations. Misgendering language contradicts children's own gender assignations and was less frequent than pathologising language which constructs children's own gender assignations and expression as disordered. Articles on children's gender identity/expression are increasingly impactful within psychology. Cisgenderism is neither increasing nor decreasing overall. Mental health professionals are more cisgenderist than other authors. Articles by members of an 'invisible college' structured around the most prolific author in this area are more cisgenderist and impactful than other articles. We suggest how authors and editors can implement American Psychological Association policy and change scientific discourse about children's genders.

Former military psychologist George Brown is preparing a study that shows that biologically male U.S. veterans are twice as likely as civilian men to identify as female and often decide to enlist to reassert their masculinity.

Michael S. Irwig, Anton Trinidad & Matthew St Peter. "Self-Castration by a Transsexual Woman: Financial and Psychological Costs: A Case Report". Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9,4, 2012: 1216-9. Health care costs associated with treating a patient after self-castration were almost four times greater than having an elective outpatient surgical castration. The patient presented to the emergency department and underwent a bilateral inguinal exploration, ligation and removal of bilateral spermatic cords, and complicated scrotal exploration, debridement, and closure. She was admitted to the psychiatric service for a hospital stay of three days. The total bill was US $14,923, which would compare with US $4,000 for an elective outpatient orchiectomy in the patient's geographical area. Abstract.

Worden wie je bent. about the situation of trans people in the Netherlands. Webpage.

Eurobarometer found: only 8% of people in EU know a trans person personally and a striking 13% have no opinion on the prevalence of trans discrimination (compared with 8% for sexual orientation). In some countries up to a third would not know. 45% of people in the EU believe trans people are discriminated. The report points out that those knowing a trans person are much more likely to be aware of discrimination on grounds of gender identity.

Hit and Miss. Paul Abbott (creator) Sean Conway (scr) with Chloë Sevigny as Mia. UK Sky Atlantic 2012. A transsexual contract killer who discovers she has a child with her former lover. Newsarticle. Wikipedia.

Work It. Produced and written by Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen, with Ben Koldyke as Lee Standish & Amaury Nolasco as Angel Ortiz. US ABC 2012. A comedy based on the old-fashioned premiss of two cis men disguising as women to find work. Many GLBT groups complained about the insensitivity, critics panned it, and it was cancelled after 2 episodes.

Paddy Power bookmakers in UK & Ireland: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XZ5MOB3nww. Beaumont Society was consulted in advance, but the script that they saw was not the final version. BS did suggest that 'transgendered ladies' was better than 'transvestites'. Trans media Watch referred the advert to Clearcast who responded: “Clearcast has approved an ad for Paddy Power featuring references to transgendered people. Ads cannot be approved if they are felt likely to cause widespread general offence. In this case Clearcast took the view that the humour, while not to everyone’s taste, fell short of causing such offence. In reaching this view, Clearcast took into account the fact that the advertiser had sought a view from the Beaumont Society (a body run by and for those who cross dress or are transsexual) which did not find the script idea offensive. We regret any offence that may have been caused by this Paddy Power ad.” Research by Jane Fae.

Director Phyllida Lloyd wants gender-blind casting to be legally required. She directed an all-female version of Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar at the Donmar Warehouse.

History of the Pantomime Dame. Presented by Michael Grade, with Berwick Kaler, BBC 4 19 December 2012 UK. Newsarticle.

Jo Clifford. "The Gospel According To Jesus Queen of Heaven. A personal history of a controversial play” in Ian Rivers & Richard Ward (eds). Out of the Ordinary: Representations of LGBT Lives. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Pub, 2012. (Jo performing is also featured on the cover).

Facing Mirrors. Negar Azarbayjani (dir) with Shayesteh Irani as Adineh. Iran 98 mins 2011. Trailer. IMDB. Newsarticle. Best Performance at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards; Special Mention at the Molodist International Film Festival; Best First Feature at the Frameline Film Festival. A woman taxi driver and a trans man make a journey together.

I Am a Woman Now. Michiel van Erp (dir) with April Ashley, Marie-Pierre Pruvot, Colette Berends, Jean Lessenich, Corinne van Tongerloo. Netherlands 80 mins 2011. IMDB. Trailer. Review. The first generation of transsexuals who had their sex change in Casablanca back in the mid-1950s to 1960s take stock of their lives.

It Gets Better. Tanwarin Sukkhapisit (dir) with Nuntika Khampiranon as Tonlew and Penpak Sirikul as Saitan. Thailand 2012. The audience award at the closing of the first Hua Hin International Film Festival. IMDB. Newsarticle. Trailer. By the director of Insects in the Backyard. Saitan, a post-transsexual takes a holiday in the north; Tonlew is the driver at a Ladyboy club.

Laurence Anyways. Xavier Dolan (dir & scr) with Melvil Poupard as Laurence, Suzanne Clément as Fred. Quebec 168 mins 2012. A literature teacher transitions. IMDB. Trailer. Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actress and the Queer Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival. Laurence is a unisex name in French. Review.

Mayamohini. Jos Thomas (dir) with Dileep as Mayamohini. India 162 mins 2012. IMDB. Trailer. Full film. An abandoned husband hires a women to pass as his wife, who turns out to be a fugitive after evil businessmen killed his parents.

The Weight. Jeon Kyu-hwan (dir) with Park Ji-a as Dong-bae, and Jo Jae-hyun as Jung. Korea 2012. IMDB. Trailer. Queer Lion at the Venice International Film Festival. A hunchback funeral-home worker with a transsexual step sibling.

What A Drag. John Petti (dir) with Selena Hoe-Mez and Krystal Caring. Canada 8 mins 2012. Ottawa's drag scene. "They may not believe they're gay or feel they are gay but they are accepted, so they kind of latch on to doing drag so they can be the woman they want to be. And some of them move forward and get the breast implants and take the hormones. " Entire.

Zenne Dancer. Caner Alper & Mehmet Binay (dir) with Kerem Can as Can. Turkey 99 mins 2012. IMDB. Trailer. Newsarticle. Best First film at the Antalya Orange Film Festival; Best International Feature and Best Supporting Actor at FilmOut San Diego. A father murders his gay son. A secondary character is Can, a male female belly dancer.

Advocates for removal of barriers to care and supports both public and private health insurance coverage for gender transition treatment.

Opposes categorical exclusions of coverage for such medically necessary treatment when prescribed by a physician.

Position Statement on Discrimination Against Transgender and Gender Variant Individuals

Therefore, the American Psychiatric Association:

Supports laws that protect the civil rights of transgender and gender variant individuals

Urges the repeal of laws and policies that discriminate against transgender and gender variant individuals.

Opposes all public and private discrimination against transgender and gender variant individuals in such areas as health care, employment, housing, public accommodation, education, and licensing.

Declares that no burden of proof of such judgment, capacity, or reliability shall be placed upon these individuals greater than that imposed on any other persons.

Eight surgeries M->F have been done in Baku by Dr Jamal Azimzade at Azn 5,000 each (€ 4,900).

Clinic in Belgrade: Dr Miroslav Djordjevic now doing 100 gender surgeries a year for $10,000.

The NHS gender clinic in Devon has seen a six-fold increase in referrals in six years. Those "who undergo gender change seldom need to access mental health services afterwards, while those who do not have treatment are likely to need psychiatric help throughout their lives. Financially it's a no-brainer".

Iranian news services reported that from 2006-10, 1,366 Iranians acquired permits for sex-change operations. 56% were MtF. To obtain the permit, application must be made to a court, and the case is then forwarded to the state medical office for processing. Iran (75 million population) has an official estimate of 15,000-20,000 transsexuals, although there are unofficial estimates up to 150,000 (=1:500). Iran is second to only Thailand in the number of gender operations. The state has begun providing grants of €2,766 for the operation, and more for hormone therapy. It also provides loans of up to €3,380 for a trans person to start their own business.

Dr Jens Pilegaard Bjarnesen, Copenhagen, removed the breasts of a 15-year-old trans boy in 2011. The Sexologisk Klinik at Rigshospital, which does gender surgery for the national health service, insisted that the boy wait till he be 18. The health agency, Sundhedsvæsnet, has criticized Dr Bjarnesen for completely removing the breast tissue, an irreversible procedure, rather than performing breast reduction surgery, and for not conducting thorough enough psychological and sexological testing.

Dr Christine McGinn was featured in the film Trans, and on the Dr Oz show.

Robert Spitzer retracted his 2001 study on gay cures. "In retrospect, I have to admit I think the critiques are largely correct," he said. "The findings can be considered evidence for what those who have undergone ex-gay therapy say about it, but nothing more." He said he spoke with the editor [Ken Zucker] of the Archives of Sexual Behavior about writing a retraction, but the editor declined. He did not retract his work pathologizing trans persons.

Joel Frader would like to help develop a clinic for transgender children in Chicago.
The Society for Humanistic Psychology called for an independent review of DSM-5.

Dr Qazi Rahman assistant professor in cognitive biology and director of psychology programs at Queen Mary University of London thinks that he has replicated the dubious Bailey results that no men are bi and that all women are.

Dr Brian Grunau, Vancouver, ordered a pregnancy test for a trans man with a stomach ache.

The Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group endorsed the prognosis that pubertal blockage can safely be initiated in pediatric patients who experience gender identity disorder,

The most detailed biography yet of Harry Benjamin, in 4 parts, by Zagria.

The brain differences between conservative and liberal. This is a stronger difference than between cis and trans, or between straight and gay.

James Olson. The Whole-Brain Path to Peace: The Role of Right- and Left-Brain Dominance in the Polarization and Reunification of America. San Rafael, Calif: Origin Press, 2011. Newsarticle. "Heterosexual men and lesbians are generally dominated by the left hemisphere of the brain, which is committed to sequential, thought-oriented processes. And heterosexual women and gay men are much more likely to be dominated by the right hemisphere of the brain, which regulates feeling and cultural awareness." A revival of 19th century inversion theory.

There were a record total of 6,809 human rights violations against Brazilian LGBTs in 2011, including 278 homicides.
Widely considered to be one of the highest rates of anti-LGBT violence in the world, these figures prompted minimal reaction from members of the Inter-American community who routinely denounce similarly horrendous statistics, such as the outrageously high homicide rates in Venezuela and northern Central America.
Similar to these instances, an overwhelming 27.5% of the victims were between 15 and 29 years old, further surpassed by a dramatically high 50.5% of victims whom identified as transsexual or transgender.
While similar atrocities in the United States, Chile, and other countries throughout the Western Hemisphere have led to the creation of anti-hate crime legislation, no such effort has occurred under the Rousseff administration."

the majority from Brazil (126, 97 in 2011), Mexico (48, 23 in 2011), the USA (15, 9 in 2011), Venezuela (9, down from 14 in 2011), Honduras (8), Colombia (6, down from 19 in 2011), and Argentina (2, down from 9 in 2011), and In Asia most reported cases have been found in Pakistan (5), and the Philippines (4), and Turkey (5). The USA now has the 3rd largest total. Argentina had a very commendable 78% reduction.

University of Georgia: Professor of German, Max Reinhart arrested for trans prostitution.

Giles Academy, Boston, Lincs, Ashlyn Parram, who has lived as a girl at home for two years, turned up for GCSE exams in girls' uniform, and was ejected until she printed off the section of the Equality Act and showed it to the headmaster.

Illinois, East Aurora School District set forth guidelines for transgender students to be treated according to their gender identity. The Illinois Family Institute is outraged. Then the School District issued revised policy against all bullying. In December the antidiscrimination committee was dissolved.

Oxford has removed its gender-specific dress code following a request from its LGBTQ Soc.

Pennsylvania: University of Pittsburg introduced a policy that faculty and students must use the washrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates.
Later 2 students who had protested that policy were investigated re bomb threats.

Rutgers University, haunted by a gay suicide two years ago, stepped up efforts for all GLBT students, and known trans students now expected and addressed in chosen name and gender.

Imprisonment

The first year of English and Welsh prisoners being located by legal gender rather than genital status. Non-imprisonment of convicted trans persons for that reason alone has stopped.

Following a series of articles in the New York Review of Books, the US Justice Department revised its estimate of prison rape. The new estimate, 216,000 exceeds rapes outside prison. Thus the US is the first county to count more rapes of men than of women.

Breanna Bradley Manning, still yet suffering cruel and unusual punishment in a US military prison, was nominated by members of the Icelandic Parliament for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was finally charged, and a preliminary hearing held. the trial is due in 2013.

Michelle Kosilek, Massachusetts inmate, won ruling to be provided with transgender surgery, but this was later suspended. However her lawyers were awarded $700,000 in legal fees. The team has offered to dismiss their request for legal fees if the state drops the appeal and pays for the surgery.

Chicago Police Department's new procedures mandates that perferred names and pronouns are to be used, derogatory language not be used; transpersons are to be transported and jailed alone when possible; access to hormones to continue; possession of needles alone not to be taken as evidence of crime.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), after meeting with the National Trans Police Association, issued new guidelines that officers with a gender recognition certificate may carry out intimate searches of suspects of the same gender. When the police feel that they need to do an intimate search of a person who is possibly trans, the person is to be asked for their preference as to whether they wish to be treated as male or female, and failing that the lifestyle that they predominately follow is to be respected. As usual, the police are not to request an actual gender recognition certificate. Unfortunately the initial statement contained: the new guidelines would reduce the opportunity “for transvestite and transsexual detainees to attempt to ‘manipulate’ their stated sex in an attempt to embarrass and discredit the Police Service” - but this was quickly removed when questioned.

Margaret Cerullo, a professor at Hampshire College, Massachusetts who has never written a book, thinking to support one trans woman whom she knows, demanded the suppression of the trans woman's wife' book even though she has not read it. With friends like this we don't need enemies.

Maggie Gallagher was abandoned by a heterosexual male and left to raise their child alone. Hence she became the president and chairman of the National Organization for Marriage which opposes equal marriages and GLBT rights.

Rob Anders, Conservative MP from Calgary West, who regards Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and suggested that the opposition leader accelerated his predecessor's death, put a petition on his website for his constituents to sign that claims that the trans right bill will give "transgendered men access to women’s public washroom facilities".

Cesar Valle failed to appear at his trial for robbing a trans brothel and threatening to murder the prostitutes. A $1m warrent was issued for his arrest.

Qasim Raqib, Detroit was given 25-40 years for mutilating Shelley Hilliard and setting her alight on the street.

Internet

Rose White (Rxlx) attempted to re-introduce HBS to Wikipedia under the term Manifest Determination. White blamed ‘homosexuals at CAMH” for its removal. She also visited GenderTrender to inform them that “Lesbians must realise that everytime they put their tongue to another woman’s mouth or vagina they get some estrogen and it gives them the same dementia as Estrogen/HRT is know to do to menopausal women. This dementia and paranoia then outlets as man hating in general and transphobia in particular.”

Donna Reiser, in her blog Purple Speaks, denied being Courtney Holder and wrote “this ‘Courtney’ person may have once been a real person but killed herself years ago since she got of being lumped with TGs and LGBTs”. Then Courtney wrote to Zagria using the pseudonym of ‘Purple’. Zagria replied that she was pleased to find that Courtney was indeed alive. ++In December Donna was quoted on Gender
Trender. She did not like to be treated as she treats other
trans women and be referred to by male pronouns. GT replied with a
post
on Donna, and Donna replied by making her blog
private so that no-one can read it.

Toronto trans porn star and activist Drew DeVeaux proposed the concept 'Cotton Ceiling' to explain the experiences queer trans women have with simultaneous social inclusion and sexual exclusion within the broader queer women’s communities. Basically, it means that cis queer women will be friends with us and talk day and night about trans rights and ending transmisogyny, but will still not consider us viable sexual partners. This was followed by workshop organized by Morgan Page: “Overcoming the Cotton Ceiling: Breaking Down Sexual Barriers for Queer Trans Women” as part of the Planned Parenthood conference at Toronto's Sherbourne Health Centre. Comments by Natalie Reed, Suzan Cook, CN Lester, Roz Kaveney.

New blogs and Websites.

Dylan, a University of Southern California student, has set up a tumblr website for US trans persons seeking accomodation.

Gender Identity Watch. Radfem perspective with misgenderings, but a thorough list of US legal changes, with a few token entries for other countries.

Apparently discontinued blogs etc (but some such do return after a break):

TS-Si, the one-time HBS site that later renounced the label but retained a separatist tilt, has closed.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TransHistory was a forum where different members wrote biographies and histories about trans persons. In some ways the group was comparable to this blog. However it was a) designated an adult forum as if transgender were a sexual activity b) it was members only to prevent the public from reading it. It was active from 2002-8, and then activity fell off. This year the organizers decided that they really did not want to be read, and all lurkers (=readers) were purged. That reduced the membership to 2. The home page now says that the Group is being prepared for deletion.

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About Zagria

I have a social science degree. I spent several years in the 70s doing Gay Lib counselling, and moved on to organizing trans groups. I was rejected by the Clarke Institute (now CAMH) in the mid 1980s, probably because I do not match either of their stereotypes, but was accepted by Russel Reid on our first meeting in late 1987, and had surgery from James Dalrymple some months later. I have mainly worked as an IT consultant. I have been with the same husband for 45 years.